The real hero behind the 'bravery' of Private Jessica

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 27/07/2003 | Julian Coman

[takenoprisoner]

If oldcorps is correct, then we have a problem. Since if there is no auto qual for Bronze as a POW, and Lynch was unable to defend or herself or help her fellow soldiers in the firefight, exactly what was her "meritorious service?"

When one goes to war one engages in firefights. Do all soldiers who engage in firefights earn the Bronze Star?

[CWOJackson]

No problem at all really, read my previous. The award is given based on merit measured against criteria. Competent authority reviewed her actions and determined that she qualified; hence the award.

[takenoprisoner]

Seems to me then she was hand picked to become the poster child for the Iraqi war...with nothing to do with any action she performed other than being there and getting apprehended by the enemy.

[OldCorps]

"Do all soldiers who engage in firefights earn the Bronze Star?"

Of course not. A PFC being awarded a Bronze Star Medal (BSM), with or without V device is a rare thing. The vast majority of infantry grunts and armor crewmen in the 1st armored, 3rd, 4th and 101st Infantry divisions will not be awarded BSMs.

here is the site for the POW medal.

http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/images/medals/pow_medal.htm

[CWOJackson]

Not at all, she was hand picked by the media to become a poster child, she was given the Bronze Star by competent authority based on her personal conduct. The two have no relationship with each other.

[takenoprisoner]

We agree on the media. Still, I see a little DOD complicity here egging on the media.

[Liberal Classic]

Amen.

[CWOJackson]

I have no doubt they are egging it on, still a totally separate issue. I don't see anyone questioning the very same award being given to other junior enlisted people from her outfit. And why is that?

[takenoprisoner]

I gotta hit the sack. So in the words of one of the greatest, "thanks for the memories."

[CWOJackson]

I'm sure there were plenty of troops waiting to great him with those very words. Good night.

[Movemout]

I don't disagree with Mrs. Walters. If those are the facts then I hope Sgt Walters is recognised. What you have here is a classic example of the fog of war. A Company Commander is either lost or given bad directions. He leads his soldiers into a hornets' nest of paramilitary forces. They fall under attack. Good soldiers are killed and captured. Jessica may not be the star of the act but she was there. I doubt she participated in the media frenzy to make her a star. She probably just wants to be left alone to try to sort out what happened. I hope she finds peace. She lost good friends and comrades to butchery and a muslim killing frenzy. I think a bronze star is little consolation.

[Michael121]

POW medal has been around a long time.

[Movemout]

I make little distinction between two frenzies, muslim and media. It was inadvertent but, in retrospect, appropriate.

[Michael121]

"elaborately staged rescue"

Yeah like this is accurate reporting.

First if all it was a raid that was filmed. It was edited by the DOD and parts released. You just don't show the world how you do things. But the raid was not staged.

First off FOX NEWS interviewed a black SSGT with the 507th, he was in the Hospital bed. He stressed they were not lost. They did not make any wrong turns. They were following an Armored column. As Germans did in WWII as N. Koreans and as NV regulars and VC's did, you wait to ambush the support and supply. You slip in and re-mine areas behind the engineers clearing a path and marking that path. Most military vehicles now have GPS. And that is DOD GPS more accurate than what is on the open market.

I don't believe in the "lost" convoy or the "wrong" turn. I believe a recovering SSGT.

[CWOJackson]

So well stated. It's amazing how many people seem to have a viseral dislike for this young soldier who did nothing more then her duty. Yet they want to blame her for the media hype or because she was awarded a medal for doing her duty.